Grandest Act of Love

^^ A picture of Ian and I because, well, if I am going to talk about love, I've got to include us! Oh, and the hearts were already on the wall…so we just had to stand by them and take a picture. Which, this photo is courtesy of Connor. He's getting pretty good.

I was thinking the other day about people who are literally in love with love. We all know one (or three). The ones who are addicted to engagements and marriage, yet never seem to go the distance with anyone. As soon as they aren't happy, they move on. As I watch this someone in my life on another one of their love cycles, it got me thinking…

In our culture, we almost make any engagement or wedding the main act of love. The grandest act. When really, it's the life that follows that truly proves your love for one another. The grandest acts of love are really lived out every day. It's making your spouse feel noticed, loved and appreciated. It's helping each other out. It's having fun together. It's the hand squeeze when you are somewhere outside your comfort level, or them taking the screaming kid in the middle of the night. 

Somewhere along the way, society, and all the movies our there, has gotten it wrong. Grand love is made in the mundane things in life, not in the grand gestures. Don't get me wrong, I loved our engagement (on the beach, in case you were wondering) and our wedding (Who wouldn't love a reception in 100 degree weather?! Which, by the way, I didn't even notice it was hot…others told me later just how miserable it was.) and I still love getting all fancy and going out on a nice date with Ian. But what I really love and notice are the little things. Him bringing home a little treat he knows I like, him making coffee for me in the morning, when I go to throw something away and notice the trash has been taken out. When he takes a crying Callum from me without asking, when he lets me sleep in on a Saturday morning. 

It's these acts of love that are the most sacrificial and really the grandest. 

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10 Years

10 years of living life with my partner in crime. We certainly have managed to pack a lot into the past 10 years of life. It's been an amazing adventure and there is no one I would rather spend it with than Ian. Sometimes I am shocked by how lucky I got considering we "chose" each other when we were just teenagers...it's almost as if God had something to do with that ;) 

I feel so amazingly blessed to be living life with someone who allows me to indulge in my Taco Bell cravings, unloads the clean dishes in the dishwasher (because he knows I hate that part), doesn't baulk at my lack of love for the mornings, loves coffee as much as I do, doesn't judge me for how often I take my car through the carwash (hey, it's unlimited!), puts the paper on the porch so the sprinklers don't soak it and fills my car with gas without me even knowing it. This man allows me to be who I am (quirks and all) and accepts and loves me just like that. 

I really don't think I tell him enough, but he is a blessing and and an amazing part of my life. I am looking forward to the next 10 years (and more after that) and all the adventure it holds for us...like Connor becoming a teenager (eek!). 

I love you Ian Grimbleby and am proud to be your wife. 

What is Love?

If I judged love basted on store windows and advertisements, I would think love has something to do with chocolate, flowers and lingerie. Valentines day has always been a funny day to me. Why do couples need a day to celebrate their love? They already have their anniversary, and that's something to celebrate given that it's a milestone each year. But a day to celebrate love, I just don't get it. And why all the expense? Honestly, who really wants chocolate for Valentines day or really any day? Okay, I am sure there are some of you out there that would appreciate it, but it does seem rather impersonal and unexciting. And really, what does chocolate have to do with love anyway?

In my relationship, love is celebrated everyday. We constantly tell each other I love you, do nice things and take time for the other person. So why some couples need a special day for this, I don't understand. Maybe the day should be a time for couples to reflect and figure out how to be loving toward each other every other day in the year!

But, back to my original question - what is love? The dictionary has many definitions of love. All of them have something to do with passion, affection and attachment. When you think about it, love is extremely hard to define in words. And not only is it a feeling, but it is action as well. And most times, it is the actions that define love. It is putting someone else before ourselves. It is helping each other along in this thing we call life. It is enjoying each other's company. It is the nice, selfless things we do for each other. And most importantly, it is every day, not just to be done (or shown) on the special days of the year.